Best Apps to Learn Chinese in 2025: Top 7 Mandarin Apps for Beginners & Kids

Are you dreaming of learning Chinese anytime, anywhere? Apps are your best companion! Whether you’re waiting for the bus, relaxing at home, or on the go, language-learning apps make mastering Mandarin flexible and fun. No need for heavy textbooks or strict schedules, just open your phone and start learning.

In this guide, we’ll introduce you to the 7 best apps in 2025 to learn Chinese, carefully selected for different learning styles and goals. Whether you’re just starting out or aiming for fluency, these tools will help you practice pronunciation, tones, and vocabulary effortlessly.

Quick List Of Best Apps to Learn Chinese

Apps to Learn Chinese	Functionality	User-Friendliness	Affordability	Recommended	For Levels/Grades	2025 Updates
WuKong App	Tailored curriculum, AI-enhanced lessons, expert tutors, global access.	Intuitive with interactive classes and scheduling.	Competitive with free trials/resources.	★★★★★	K-12 (ages 3-18)	New AI pronunciation feedback.
HelloChinese	Real-world convos, speech recognition, writing practice.	Clear path with feedback.	Free basic, premium 6.99/mo.	★★★★	All levels	New Mandarin stories with AI voices.
SuperChinese	Slow-paced vocab, real dialogues, AI chat.	Beginner-friendly exercises.	Free trial, subscription 4-30/hour.	★★★★	All levels	More AI-assisted prep tools.
ChineseSkill	Games, grammar patterns, native videos.	Engaging exercises.	Free with in-app purchases.	★★★	All levels	Updated HSK 4 content.

Lingodeer: Gamified Learning for HSK Success

Lingodeer offers a gamified approach to learning Chinese, making the process engaging and enjoyable. It targets HSK 1 to 3 vocabulary and grammar and helps learners practice writing 1,000 Chinese characters.

Pros:

• Gamified Lessons: Lingodeer’s gamified structure motivates learners through interactive lessons and exercises.
• Comprehensive Coverage: The app covers a wide range of topics and skills, including vocabulary, grammar, listening, and writing, ensuring a well-rounded learning experience.
• Speaking Practice: The app includes features that allow learners to listen to sentences and then record themselves, promoting oral proficiency.

Cons:

• Sequential Learning Path: Learners must follow the set sequence of lessons, which might not appeal to those who prefer a more flexible learning approach.
• Limited Advanced Content: Lingodeer primarily targets beginner to intermediate levels, potentially lacking in advanced material for higher proficiency learners.

WuKong APP : Unleash Your Child’s Potential on Chinese Learning

Embarking on mastering Mandarin is an enriching experience, especially when guided by the expertise of the WuKong Chinese Course. Tailored specifically for children aged 3-18 worldwide, WuKong stands as a beacon of authentic Chinese learning, facilitated by educators deeply immersed in the culture. Let’s delve into the pros and cons of this renowned app to understand how it can elevate your child’s language skills.

Pros:

• Tailored Learning Experience: WuKong offers a meticulously crafted curriculum developed by a top-tier research team. With four core Chinese courses comprising 32 levels and five supplementary modules, each child can find their perfectly tailored course, ensuring effective and personalized learning.
• Expert Educators: At WuKong, only the top 1% of teachers globally are selected to be part of the teaching team. With an average of five years of teaching experience and 76% holding a Master’s degree or higher, these educators bring unparalleled expertise and dedication to each lesson.
• Comprehensive Course Offerings: From International Chinese to Pre-K Chinese, WuKong covers a wide range of core courses suitable for different age groups and proficiency levels. Additionally, supplementary courses like “Speak Like a Natural” and “STAR Reading Club” provide a complete balance to your child’s Mandarin learning journey.
• Global Accessibility: WuKong’s online platform provides flexibility and accessibility, available in over 2000 cities worldwide. Whether it’s one-on-one or small group classes, children can enjoy engaging and fun lessons tailored to their schedule and learning pace.
• Chinese Resources: As a Chinese learning hub hosting resources on topics ranging from printable worksheets PDFs and Chinese learning workbooks to traditional stories and tutorial videos, WuKong offers an extensive library of supplementary materials to enrich the learning experience further.

Cons:

• None Identified: Wukong Chinese currently only provides free trial lessons for new users, but there are many Chinese learning resources that can be obtained for free, overing Chinese vocabulary, Chinese characters, Chinese books, and more.

HelloChinese: A Comprehensive Starter Kit

HelloChinese is a fantastic app for beginners embarking on their journey to learn the Chinese language. With over eight million downloads worldwide, it offers a well-rounded curriculum around real-world conversations and listening activities.

Pros:

• Structured Curriculum: HelloChinese provides a clear, structured learning path that guides beginners through the first six levels of the HSK (Chinese Proficiency Test), ensuring a solid foundation in the Chinese language.
• Interactive Learning Tools: The app includes features like speech recognition to help with pronunciation and tones, and an interface for handwriting practice, making it a comprehensive tool for all aspects of language learning.
• Engaging Lessons: Lessons designed around real-world conversations allow learners to apply what they learn to everyday situations quickly.

Cons:

• Limited Advanced Content: While excellent for beginners, advanced learners might find the content less challenging after reaching a certain proficiency level.
• Basic Plan Limitations: The free plan offers limited access, prompting users to pay for a more complete experience.

Daily Chinese: Vocabulary Mastery Made Easy

Daily Chinese is a powerful tool for learners focused on expanding their vocabulary. Using spaced repetition and diverse word packs, it covers everything from basic grammar to niche categories.

Pros:

• Extensive Vocabulary Database: With over 9,000 Chinese characters and a wide variety of word packs, Daily Chinese offers one of the largest vocabulary collections for Mandarin learners.
• Spaced Repetition: This technique helps optimize retention and recall, ensuring learners remember what they’ve studied over the long term.
• Variety of Topics: The app includes word packs on various topics, from foundational grammar to industry-specific vocabulary, catering to learners with varied interests.

Cons:

• Subscription-Based Model: While some features are available for free, a subscription is required to access the full range of content, which might not be ideal for all learners.
• Interface Learning Curve: Some users may find the app’s interface less intuitive, requiring time to get accustomed to its features.
• Limited Speaking Practice: The app focuses heavily on vocabulary and may not provide sufficient Chinese speaking and listening practice.

italki: Personalized Tutoring at Your Fingertips

italki connects learners with experienced tutors for personalized lessons, offering a flexible and interactive way to master the Chinese language.

Pros:

• One-on-One Tutoring: Personalized lessons with experienced tutors ensure focused learning and tailored feedback, addressing individual needs and goals.
• Flexible Scheduling: With tutors available 24/7, learners can schedule sessions that fit their timetable, making learning convenient anytime, anywhere.
• Customised Lessons: Whether you want free-flowing conversations or structured learning based on HSK prep books, italki allows you to tailor lessons to your specific objectives.

Cons:

• Cost Variability: The price per session depends on the tutor, ranging from 30 per hour, which might be expensive for some learners.
• Tutor Quality Variation: While most tutors are qualified, the quality can vary, and finding the right fit might take time.
• Dependency on Internet Connection: A stable internet connection is essential as lessons are conducted online, which might be a limitation for some users.

ChineseSkill: Fun and Interactive Learning

ChineseSkill makes learning Mandarin fun through games and interactive exercises. It is suitable for both beginners and intermediate learners, covering HSK 3 and 4 levels.

Pros:

• Interactive Games: The app uses games and interactive exercises to make learning enjoyable and engaging.
• Comprehensive Curriculum: With over 400 grammar points, 300 sentence patterns, 1,000 words, and 1,500 characters, ChineseSkill offers a thorough foundation in the Chinese language.
• Practice Features: The app includes character writing practice, speaking exercises with speech recognition, and native-speaker videos, providing a well-rounded learning experience.

Cons:

• Intermediate Focus: While great for beginners and intermediate learners, those at advanced levels might find the app less challenging.
• Limited Advanced Content: The app primarily focuses on foundational and intermediate levels, with less content for advanced learners.
• In-App Purchases: To access more features and advanced lessons, users might need to make in-app purchases, which could be a limitation for those seeking free resources.

Duolingo：AI-Powered Chinese App

Pros:

• AI-Generated Stories: 5-minute audio tales with authentic Beijing accents (no robotic TTS) auto-adjust to your vocab level—like “Little Ming and His AI Cat”—making listening practice fun and contextual.
• Tone Trainer Mini-Games: Visual waveform feedback shows exactly where your tone dips, turning tricky tone practice into an addictive rhythm game.
• Podcast-Style Survival Lessons: Real-life scenarios—ordering milk tea, bargaining at night markets, surviving rush-hour subway—delivered in bite-sized, daily doses.

Cons:

• Ads in Free Version: Frequent interruptions unless you upgrade to Super Duolingo ($6.99/mo), which can break focus during streaks.
• Limited Depth for Advanced Learners: Great for HSK 1–3, but lacks nuanced grammar explanations or business/cultural depth beyond HSK 4.
• Gamification Overload: Daily streaks and leaderboards motivate some, but may feel childish or stressful for serious adult learners.

2025 Trends: How Does AI Change Chinese Learning

In 2025, AI has completely transformed how we learn Chinese—no longer just flashcards or robotic repetition, but a 24/7 personal language coach in your pocket. Here are the four biggest trends defining this year:

1. Hyper-Accurate Speech Recognition Modern AI now analyzes Mandarin’s four tones in real time with 96% accuracy, a leap from 72% in 2023. For kids, this means instantly knowing if they said “mā má mà mǎ” correctly, without waiting a week for teacher feedback.

2. Adaptive Learning Paths AI skips what you already know and drills your weak spots. Confused between cè (测) and cè (侧)? The system pauses the main lesson and inserts targeted practice. 2025 data shows 30% faster HSK progress with adaptive tech.

3. Cultural & Meme-Powered Immersion AI pulls real dialogues from trending Douyin videos and generates lessons around hot phrases like “nèijuǎn” (involution), “tǎng píng” (lying flat), or “double reduction anxiety.” Teens learn naturally, like binge-watching, but in Chinese.

4. Hybrid Human + AI Tutoring AI creates personalized worksheets and preps vocab; human teachers focus on nuance, emotion, and cultural context. This combo lets motivated kids go from zero to HSK 3 in just 12 weeks.

Conclusion

In this article, we’ve explored several options to find the best app to learn Chinese. Each app has its own benefits and drawbacks, catering to different learning styles. From structured lessons to personalized tutoring, there’s something for everyone. Among these options, WuKong Chinese Course stands out as a top recommendation. With its expert teachers, well-designed curriculum, and global accessibility, WuKong offers a comprehensive and tailored learning experience for children of all ages. If you’re looking to unlock your child’s full potential in mastering Chinese, we highly recommend giving WuKong Chinese Course a try.

FAQs: App to Learn Chinese